Vodafone Idea shares rise amid potential government relief
Vodafone Idea (Vi) shares rose 6% after reports that the government might step in to help with its massive AGR dues.
Vi owes ₹84,000 crore and faces yearly payments of ₹18,064 crore from FY26—numbers the company says it just can't handle alone.
Government has a stake in keeping Vi alive
If Vi collapses, India's telecom market could lose a major player, which isn't great for competition or users.
The government now owns 48.99% of Vi after converting dues into equity, so it has a stake in keeping Vi alive.
Plans on the table include stretching out repayments from six to 20 years and switching to simple interest—moves that would seriously ease Vi's burden.
What's next?
The Supreme Court shot down Vi's request to waive its dues entirely, making government support even more urgent.
Until there's a final fix, the idea is for Vi to make small annual payments of ₹1,000-1,500 crore just to keep things moving.
It's all about balancing debt relief with keeping the industry stable for everyone.